"Dress for the job you want," goes the adage. In today's hypercompetitive dog-destroy-dog world of work, that may be one reason why more men are buying suits.

Or men may want only to proffer proof positive of the hours spent at the gym. Today's slim suits show off trim physiques, and help those who look good feel good as well.

There's also a generational change in play as men in their 20s engage with fashion and shop in groups for the fun of looking.

Perhaps it's an overall sense that the economy is in recovery mode. "If you're feeling bad about the economy, you're not likely to go out and buy a suit," says Justin Waterman, an industry analyst.

For whatever reason, those outfits, the look Webster's defines as "a set of garments" - where the jackets and pants match rather than coordinate - are adding sparkle to strong overall sales of menswear, which is outpacing women's clothing in a lackluster economy.

Menswear sales overall declined 16.6 percent in step with the economic downturn, but since 2009, sales have increased, according to Waterman, a men's apparel industry analyst with IbisWorld, a market research firm that is projecting sales of men's suits, slacks and tailored pants will rise an average of 4.2 percent per year until reaching pre-crash levels in 2017. This contrasts with sales of women's coats, jackets and suits, which have contracted over the same period.

"From my research, it looks as if menswear is the bright spot for fashion retailing," says Tom Julian, president of Tom Julian Group, a retail consultancy and the author of "Nordstrom Guide to Men's Everyday Dressing" (Chronicle Books, 2010).

Indeed, the Houston Galleria's Saks Fifth Avenue recently expanded its men's offerings, adding another room in the contemporary department, as well as several new lines and brands. The tailoring department is also slightly larger.

"We had a record-breaking year last year in menswear," says selling manager Michael Alario, adding that the decision to expand in menswear was made to "capitalize on the growing business."

In suiting, Alario says Armani Collezione continues to be the store's best-seller. Saks has also introduced what Alario calls "fast-growing brands" such as well-fitting Italian labels Isaia and Canali, plus new emerging lines by the likes of Texas-born George Carr. "There has been a focus on a more modern suit, a slimmer suit," he says. "Even larger guys are looking for a slimmer silhouette."

Meanwhile, the made-to-measure suit business is booming for Raja Ratan, the Dallas-based owner of Q Custom Clothier, which he opened in Houston's West Ave development a year ago.

"After 10 years in Dallas we were ready to expand," says Ratan. "There aren't a lot of places in the country that do exactly what we do. Most custom clothing is in a dark, back corner of a store. Our Houston store has been doing extremely well. We've experienced at least 20-percent growth every month (since we opened)."

Q touts accessible price points for its in-house-label made-to-measure suits; prices start at $1,095. (Custom shirts start at $150.) "We've noticed more interest in a more tight, tailored fit," he says. "And our customer is everyone from a 30-year-old lawyer to a 60-year-old larger man."

He also notes that Q - and its brother shop next door, Rye 51, which stocks a curated selection of more casual clothing and accessories by brands like Rag & Bone and Bespoken - offers shoppers an "experience," with an in-house whiskey bar. Saks also has its own new bar, 12, near the men's shoe area.

Ratan thinks the preference these days for a more modern silhouette has to do with what men are seeing in magazines and on taste-making celebrities (think Jake Gyllenhaal and Justin Timberlake). Men are experimenting more with accessories, too -which Alario at Saks echoes, saying there has been a renewed interest in pocket squares and making neckwear "pop" - plus variations on the classic suit, such as wider or skinnier lapels. "I've been seeing more men bring in inspiration pictures," says Ratan. "They say, 'I want to look like this.'"